Cisco ChengMotion Computing LE1700 Tablet PCIf working while standing is in your job description, this slate tablet is the best in the business. For all else, look for a convertible tablet that has a built-in keyboard.

Digitizer pen has no equal. Lightweight. Well connected with a variety of wireless options. Good amount of RAM to run Windows Vista Business.

Cons

Can get warm at times. Geared toward vertical markets. Add-on features can easily put this system above $3,000.

Bottom Line

If working while standing is in your job description, this slate tablet is the best in the business. For all else, look for a convertible tablet that has a built-in keyboard.

tablet pcs are quickly making their way into the mainstream market, and consumers are actually buying into the idea of inputting data with a digital pen. but convertible tabletsones with a built-in keyboardare really the ones gaining momentum in the mainstream, whereas slate tablets (which have no keyboard) are more prevalent in specialty environments such as health care and field work. motion computing produces some of the best slate tablets in the world, and its latest offering, the le1700 ($2,457 direct) lives up to its legacy. if you spend most of the time working on your feet and want the lightest tablet available, with a big screen, then hands down, the le1700 is the best option available. the majority of tablet users, however, are better off with something that looks more like a laptop.

Similar Products

most slate users will rest the le1700 on their forearms and occasionally on their laps. that's where weight plays an important role. the 3.3-pound unit won't tire your armsat least if you're happy with the 39-wh battery. adding the extra battery slice (also 39 wh), as i did, boosts the weight to 4.3 pounds, and that's when stamina comes into play.

the le1700 is configured with a 12.1-inch display that really works best in portrait mode. a physical orientation button lets you rotate the screen to whatever orientation you want. the 1,400-by-1,050 resolution is ideal if your worksheets, databases, and web sites require constant scrolling. alternatively, the lenovo thinkpad x60 tablet offers a similar 12-inch screen with 1,400-by-1,050 resolution. motion computing offers the option of adding its view anywhere display ($299), a special antiglare screen made for outdoor viewing. other options include touch functions on the display ($299), which supplement the digitizer pen. the pen's girth produces the most comfortable writing experience in the market, with a grip that has no equal.

heat becomes an issue after extensive use. the previous version, the le1600, uses an ultra-low-voltage (ulv) processor that keeps the unit cool. with the le1700, motion computing has bumped up the processor in favor of performance. it has gone to the 1.5-ghz intel core 2 duo l7400, which tends to run hotter than a ulv processor. when i tested its heat with an infrared thermometer, temperatures got up to an astounding 104° fahrenheit. i recommend configuring the system down to an intel core solo ulv processor, and saving that $200. if performance is a must, the extra battery slice ($299) helps shield some of the heat, and additional padding is probably a good idea.

in looks, the unit is slender and sleek. the frame is made up entirely of magnesium alloy, protecting the unit when you're out in the field. the hard drive is shock-mounted with a built-in accelerometer, which parks the hard drive's heads during a sudden movement. in health care and government, security features are crucial for protecting valuable data. the le1700 encrypts data with the aid of a trusted platform module. it also offers service from computrace, a company that locates and retrieves lost or stolen computers (a computrace chip is built into the system, but you pay extra to activate the service). the integrated fingerprint reader can serve as a security device for authentication, but its real draw is the ease of logging in to remote servers, web sites, or windows vista with a swipe of your finger. this is handy, given that the system does not integrate a keyboard.

the le1700 has two usb ports, which you'll appreciate if you decide to attach devices such as an external keyboard or optical drive. most professionals who buy into slates probably won't need to worry about external devices because everything will be stored and accessed via remote servers anyway. still, the 60gb hard drive provides ample storage on the le1700. the unit comes with an sd card reader, compatible with digital cameras that support sd media. it has two video-out options for presenting and docking: a dvi-d and a vga port.

if you're out in the field, connectivity is a critical component. motion computing is partnering with a yet-to-be-named carrier to bring ev-do rev. a wireless ($199) into the le1700. this means you can surf at speeds of up to 3.1 megabits per secondbroadband speedsthrough the use of cell-phone towers. you can also find a sim card slot that will enable you to use cingular's hsdpa standard (you'll have to buy cingular's service separately). these wireless wide area network (wwan) services require a data plan, which typically costs in the realm of $60 to $80 a month. otherwise, the le1700 has wi-fi (802.11a/g) and an ethernet port built in as alternatives for accessing the web.

as stated earlier, the le1700 has moved to a dual-core processor, as opposed to the ulv, single-core processor found on the previous version. it's still a low-voltage processor. motion computing employed it, rather than a standard-voltage core 2 duo processor, mainly to keep the system from getting any hotter than it already does. in contrast, the toshiba portégé m400-s4032 runs a standard-voltage dual-core processor. the performance edge might actually go to the lenovo x60 tablet. the le1700 uses a 1.8-inch hard drive that spins at only 4,200 rpm, whereas the x60 tablet uses a 2.5-inch drive at 5,400 rpm. both machines have the same processors and memory configurations listed on their web sites. i cannot compare my benchmark test scores at this point, since this is the first tablet to go through my new cinebench 9.5 and windows media encoder tests. i think motion computing did the right thing by putting in 2gb of ram, to offset the requirements of windows vista business and the memory demands of the integrated graphics chipset. i ran my battery tests with two 39-wh batteries. i expected more battery life with both batteries operating at the same time. the 2 hours 10 minutes running down a dvd is less than spectacular, but motion computing estimates 5 hours of battery time running work-related tasks.

the motion computing le1700 is geared toward professionals who spend the majority of their time on their feet. so if even half of your time is spent at your desk, this tablet is not for you. get a convertible tablet such as the lenovo thinkpad x60 tablet. health-care and field workers are vertical markets that seem to favor slate tablets, and those who prefer a keyboardless tablet should tack on an extra half-star to my rating. granted, a system with all the bells and whistles is extremely expensive, and tacking on the options can easily put this system above $3,000. still, if your preference runs toward slate tablets, and you're looking to keep the weight off, then the le700 is definitely worth your attention.

Motion Computing LE1700 Tablet PC

good

Bottom Line: If working while standing is in your job description, this slate tablet is the best in the business. For all else, look for a convertible tablet that has a built-in keyboard.

Motion Computing LE1700 Tablet ...

Motion Computing LE1700 Tablet PC

Get Our Best Stories!

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.